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To help fill the shortage of high quality day care in Milford, Kidz, Ink Academy of Early Academics has signed an agreement to locate a center at the Milford Wellness Village, beginning next summer. Kidz, Ink becomes the first business to announce plans to join the Nationwide Health Care skilled nursing center at the site, which Bayhealth Hospital is vacating in early 2019.

“Milford is a growing area and we were attracted by the opportunity and the great need for quality child care,” said Phil Kitson, part of the Kidz, Ink husband-wife owners. “Some Milford parents now drive their children to our center in Dover so this will be a lot more convenient for them.”

Kidz, Ink currently operates five other centers, in Bear, Smyrna and Dover where children receive safe, quality care and outstanding education.

“We started this business because of a need we had for our children, so we base our care as if these are our own children,” said Kitson, a licensed practical nurse who began this second career with his wife Aretha after 20 years in the military. “We want our places to feel like a family environment. When they drop their kids off with us it’s just like they’re dropping off their kids with a member of their family. They feel safe. They feel secure. And, they have the knowledge that their children are going to be taken care of well.”

Kidz, Ink places a high priority on education. “We start our educational program at the two-year-old level and it runs all the way through,” said Aretha Kitson. “When kids leave us they are absolutely prepared for kindergarten. Parents come back to tell us about how well their child is doing in kindergarten and the teacher will want to know where the child went to pre-K. We do homework with our children. Education has always been a key for us. We’re not baby sitters; we’re educators.”

Kidz, Ink uses a curriculum called Core Knowledge, similar to what is used at Newark Charter. It provides an excellent foundation and prepares children for elementary school. A big advantage to locating their 11,000 square foot center on the same campus as a Nationwide Health Care nursing center is the proximity to senior citizens. Studies have shown how interactions between seniors and children can benefit both.

“Senior citizens love being around children and children love being around seniors,” Phil Kitson said. “It’s a great atmosphere for both. Having a lot of children around helps seniors stay young, and the children love the attention. The arrangement is going to be a complement to either program.”

Several other organizations are close to announcing plans to operate at the Wellness Village but space remains available. Businesses interested in locating at the site can call Nationwide Health Care at 732.262.2255 ext. 2116.